May 27, 2024. Chapter 1-2.
###FLASHBACK###Over six years ago, in Sweden.Adrian was sitting up in the hospital bed, recovering from his spinal and leg injuries. The doctors came in and gave him the news that broke his heart. "We now have the complete evaluation of your situation, Adrian," the primary doctor said. "The surgery saved your life and your ability to make use of your upper body. However, you won't be able to walk again.""No! That can't be!" Adrian's grandfather, Abner, reacted. "I did not pay you millions of dollars just to give me and my grandson that answer!"The loud screams did not stop there. Abner King continued to berate the doctors from outside Adrian's hospital room. "You told me my grandson had an 80% chance of recovery? What is this now? So Adrian belongs to the lower 20%?""You are fired!""Get me another doctor!""I want the best doctors for my grandson!"Adrian King was not a man of weak heart, but to imagine a life without running, playing basketball, hiking, biking, and possibly wa
"Your mother may go home next week. She may opt to resume her therapy as an outpatient," the doctor said to Riley. "Of course, staying here until your mother fully recovers is more convenient.""Thank you, doctor. We will discuss it," Riley said before seeing the doctor leave. Riley walked over to Renee and sat on her bed. She asked, "Mom? Would you like to go home?"Renee thought deeply. Then, she responded, "I don't think I want to travel often while I still can't walk properly. Is it okay if I stay here? It's a lot safer here. When you get home, Riley, you always travel with a driver, right? Adrian had mentioned he assigned you a driver. So you are always safe? How is the house?""Um." Riley chuckled. She said, "Mom, we are talking about you, not me."Then, she wondered if it was the right time to tell Renee about living with Adrian. Clearing her throat, Riley said, "But about me, Mom. I have been meaning to tell you. Adrian has been a bit protective of me, so he asked me to move i
Inside a vast mansion, four individuals awaited Abner and Adrian's return. Riley became the center of attention. Like Adrian's family members, they sat at the dining table as if participating in a staring contest. Anthony King, Tonet, and Fredrick scrutinized Riley's every move, judging her by her appearance.Tonet had short black hair, very full lips, a slender face, and skin as white as pearl. She kept raising a brow at Riley and sometimes whispered in Fredrick's ear. Adrian's stepbrother also had very fair skin. He had light brown hair and was good-looking. However, to Riley, Fredrick paled in comparison to Adrian. Fredrick was constantly smirking and checking Riley's frame. The way he maintained his prolonged gaze felt invasive and inappropriate to Riley. It made her very uncomfortable."Anthony, I'm only looking out for Adrian. I think she must be a gold digger," Tonet remarked, leaning closer to her husband. She pretended to whisper, but her voice was audible enough for Riley
Dinner was far from the appetizing feast Riley had anticipated, even with the tantalizing seafood spread before them. Despite Abner King's valiant efforts to maintain a semblance of order, the air in the dining room was thick with an unspoken tension that seemed to grow with each passing moment.Anthony's eyes were like daggers, piercing through the air and landing squarely on Adrian. But Adrian, seemingly unfazed, continued to fill his plate with food. He deftly peeled a giant prawn, dipped it in a chili sauce, and placed it on Riley's plate. His voice was calm as he said, "Here, it's your favorite, Hun."Forcing a smile, Riley said to Adrian, "Thanks, Hun."After eating the fat prawn, Riley gulped down a glass of white wine. She wiped the corners of her mouth with a table napkin and said, "Um, excuse me. I need to go to the restroom.""Let me show you where it is," Adrian offered. "It's okay, Adrian." Riley grabbed her purse, saying, "I can find it.""I'm sure she is smart enough to
'What? Give Adrian a chance to lead the company?' Fredrick thought. If it were last year, he would never consider this, but with the current state of the conglomerate, he might benefit from the setup.The construction company was losing projects, and Fredrick was at his wits' end trying to figure out how to restore it to its former glory, but Adrian might have a solution that he was unwilling to share. Inside Fredrick's head, he thought, 'If Adrian thinks he can prove himself by temporarily taking over my position, he is wrong. I'll use him, and by the end of his brief leadership, I'll take credit for everything he has done. Haha!''You don't know, Adrian. You don't know what kind of backing I have within the board of directors now.' Fredrick was laughing in silence, but however amused he was, he concealed his inner thoughts and said with a complicated expression, "Fine!""I agree," Fredrick said, his voice dripping with a hidden agenda. "But you have to take care of the company, Adri
Riley took a big whiff of Adrian's shirt, and immediately, her cheeks flushed. Wearing the man's oversized shirt felt like having him wrap his arms around her. At least, that was how Riley felt about it. "Wow," Barely a whisper, she said. "It smells really good."Adrian had a special fabric softener and iron spray for all his clothes. Everything in his closet had a distinctly masculine and spicy fragrance.She swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. With her freshly washed face, she returned to the bedroom, her steps filled with nervousness.Adrian was already in bed, reading a book. He looked at her, and their eyes were glued to each other for seconds. Riley chuckled before raising her arms, asking, "How do I look?"Adrian's eyes sparkled with amusement as he took in Riley's appearance."It's a perfect fit," he declared, his voice filled with satisfaction.The man's undershirt was indeed a tremendous mini-sleeping dress for Riley. It covered her arms and upper thighs; the b
While asleep, Riley kept tumbling and turning. On the left side of the bed, she felt cold and alone. Often, Riley found herself moving to the right, where it was warm. Even though the pillows were a little hard, like an overbaked bread, she unconsciously thought they were soothing. The scent drew her in the most. It made her feel secure, and she slept like a baby through the night. "Hmmm," Riley hummed. Her smile reached her ears as she savored that manly scent that was engulfing her. 'This scent is so familiar,' Riley thought. 'It smells like Adrian.''Adrian?' Riley fluttered her eyes open. When she saw how she was hugging the man like a teddy bear, her leg around his, she silently screamed, 'Oh, my god!'Riley flinched as she shut her eyes back. She remembered the Korean series she had seen, in which the female lead awoke in the same situation. She thought, 'How in the world did the same thing happen to me?'In that drama, the female lead pretended to be asleep as if nothing hap
"I am so honored to meet you, Mister King, and it is such a sincere gesture of Adrian to introduce us," Renee expressed.Riley and Adrian visited Renee at the hospital in the afternoon, and Abner came along. "It is my pleasure to meet the mother of the woman who had captured my grandson's heart." Abner laughed, saying, "You should know that Adrian is very picky. Riley must be a special girl."Abner and Renee talked at the hospital room's dining table, whereas Riley sat with Adrian across from them. "Oh, Riley is always special," Renee smiled as she described, glancing at Riley and Adrian. "But Adrian, he is very kind.""He is. My grandson is stubborn, but he is kind," Abner acknowledged. "You know, I was worried at some point that maybe Adrian would stay single all his life. I have been pushing him to have a family for some time now. So, I am glad that he met Riley."Abner pointed to Adrian and said, "As you can see, my grandson is smitten!""It won't be long when these two tie the k